Pneumatic jacket



Jan. 3, 1956 I. ABRAMS 2,729,259

PNEUMATIC JACKET Filed Dec. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/ZVl/VG 'QBRAMSIN VEN TOR.

Jan. 3, 1956 ABRAMS 2,729,259

PNEUMATIC JACKET Filed Dec. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IRVING ABE/4M8INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 2,729,259 I PNEUMATICJACKET Irving Abrams,Woodside, N. Y. Application December 19, 1952, Serial No. 326,993

6 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates generally to a pneumaticjacket such as to protect baby bottles and other objects from damage andbreakage, but more specifically to an infiatable tubular jacket wherebybreakage or damage of the object is prevented as through accidentaldropping, collision, impact and vibration and whereby the temperature ofthe object is maintained.

Gne object of the invention resides in the provision of an inflatabletubular jacket for baby bottles which forms a part thereof when applied,which permits the exposure of the nipple element, which is easilyremovabie upon deflation, and which is safe for handling by the infantat all times.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of aninflatable jacket which is comprised of nonmetallic and soft parts,which is non-toxic and which when used for a baby bottle serves as anattraction for the child both from the standpoint of playful activitiesand from the standpoint of appearance.

Other features of the invention reside in the efliciency of the device,the ease of application and removal from the object or bottle andapplication to bottles and objects of various sizes. 7

These objects and other incidental endsand advantages of the inventionwill hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointedout in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification is a drawing showing a preferred form ofthe invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the device in deflatedcondition.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective and partly in section showing thedevice in inflated condition and in operative position with respect tothe bottle.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 across the plane 3--3 thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a type of valve which may be used inconnection with the operation of the device.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective showing a child in a baby carriage atthe time when the bottle has been dropped from its hand.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention takenalong the longitudinal axis. 7

Figure 7 is a view in perspective showing a deflated commercial type ofpocket or jacket with fusion points on both sides.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the said jacket in operative position ona container, crate, or piece of machinery shown diagrammatically as anoutlined section.

In accordance with the invention and one of the preferred and modifiedforms shown, a tubular jacket for a baby bottle A is made of anysuitable elastic and resilient materials such as rubber or plastichaving the physical characteristics thereof. For this purposepolyethylene or vinyl may be used as well as other compositions. Thetubular jacket has a pair of concentric and spaced walls, the inner wallbeing indicated by numeral while the neck portion indicated by numeral15 is re duced to conform to the reduced portion 16 of the baby bottle.It is to be observed that the top wall of the jacket is adapted to goover the lip 17 of the bottle whereby the side wall 18 of the nipplebecomes engaged by the corresponding tubular inner wall portion therebypermitting nipple head 19 to be exposed for manipulation by the child. i

As is shown, the bottom wall 13 is adapted to project beyond the bottom20 of the baby bottle whereby the jacket when inflated extends beyond asis best shown in Figure 2.

In appearance the jacket when flattened out has the shape of a babybottle as best seen in Figure 1 and has a top opening 21 and a bottomopening 22.

A suitable valve is provided whereby the jacket may be inflated by mouthpressure and is indicated by numeral 23. Valve 23 is concealed andprotected as shown between the bottom 20 of the baby bottle A and theouter wall 11 adjacent the bottom opening 22. Valve 23 as shown may beformed of a hard rubber cylinder having a bore 24 communicating with theinterior of the jacket, said bore having an enlarged bore 25communicating therewith to seat a spring operated ball 26, the said ball26 having an extension 27 proceeding through a reduced bore portion 28,extension 27 having a button member 29 in another enlarged bore portion30 which communicates with the mouth opening of valve 23. The buttonmember 29 is capable of being manipulated by the finger for purposes ofdeflation. When the valve 23 is put to the mouth for inflation the mouthpressure displaces ball 26 from the valve seat in bore 28 and after thejacket is inflated the ball 26 returns to its seat by virtue of springpressure.

In Figure 6 is shown a modified form of jacket wherein are providedvarious spot-welds between the inner and outer walls 10 and 11 saidspot-welds being indicated by numerals 31 and 32. The purpose of suchspot-welds is to localize higher pressure areas between the jacket andthe baby bottle for firm gripping purposes. over, the valve in themodified form and as shown in Figure 6 is provided with a nesting placebefore inflation by the utilization of folds 33 in the outer wall 11when the jacket is in deflated condition. Upon inflation the valve 23.of Figure 6 is capable of being in concealed condition between thebottom of the bottle and the inner bottom rim of the jacket.

Upon inflation, the inner wall 19 of the jacket is forced against thesurface of the bottle thereby gripping the same frictionally andconforming to the shape thereof while the outer wall 11 is free toexpand outwardly.

The device above described is applicable to the bottle and in deflatedcondition by applying the same over the head of the bottle through thebottom opening 22. When the jacket is so applied and the top 21 isadjacent the bottle rim 17 then the jacket is inflated. After suchinflation the bottle may be filled with milk and thereafter the nippleapplied. Hand-pressure is able to clear the top wall 12 of the inflatedjacket in order to free space for application of the nipple wall 1'7.

Thus a guard is provided which is sanitary, which prevents breakage ofbaby bottles thereby depriving the child of its food and which alsoeliminates the need for cleaning up the results of the breakage.

It is to be understood that the jacket may already be inflated whenpurchased and therefore need have no valve member. In such event, thejacket would have t9 More come in various sizes and shapes since thedegree of inflation by the consumer controls the conformation of thejacket shape to the bottle shape.

The third form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 indicate asuitably shaped commercial type of jacket generally indicated by numeral34 and may have suitably spaced fusion points such as 35, 36 and 37, onopposite sides for gripping the walls of a package or machine such asindicated generally by numeral 41 upon inflation.

When the jacket is inflated as through a conventional oneway flappervalve 40, the open ends 38 and 39 have inwardly directed peripheralbeads 42 and 43 to serve as guards for the top and bottom walls 45 and46 of the item to be protected. The side walls of the item 44 are fullyprotected by the inflated jacket as well as the top and bottom walls asdescribed by the air pocket 47 within the jacket.

It is understood that jacket 34 is capable of being made in all shapesand where such shape is irregular, fusion points may be eliminated.

The third form of the invention is useful for guarding explosive orbreakable items against sudden impact, for packing for purposes oftransportation and is further useful as a cushion against vibration ofthe interior.

I wish it furthermore understood that minor changes and variations inthe material, shape, size integration and combination of parts may allbe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A removable and inflatable tubular jacket for baby bottles tomaintain the temperature of the contents thereof and to preventaccidental breakage comprising a hollow body having concentricallydisposed inner and outer spaced and elastic walls and top and bottomwalls, the said inner and outer walls having connecting welds atpredetermined areas and having a reduced top neck portion whereby saidhollow body is applicable to a baby bottle over the top thereof and tosubstantially conform in shape therewith, a valve body communicatingwith the outer wall for inflating said hollow body whereby the innerwall becomes compressed against the surface of the bottle for frictionalengagement therewith and the nipple of the bottle is exposed.

2. A removable and inflatable tubular jacket for baby bottles comprisinga hollow body having inner and outer spaced and elastic walls connectingwelds at predetermined areas between said walls and top and bottom wallsto form an air chamber, said body having a reduced neck portion with acentral opening at the top and having a central opening at the bottom, avalve member secured to the outer wall ofthe body for inflating thejacket.

3. A removable tubular jacket for baby bottles comprising a hollowinflated body having inner and outer spaced and elastic walls connectingwelds at predetermined areas between said walls, top and bottom walls,said body having a reducedneek .portion with a central opening at thetop for engaging the neck of the bottle and a. central opening at thebottom to engage the bottom of the bottle and means for inflating saidjacket.

4. A removable tubular jacket for baby bottles comprising a hollowinflated body having spaced inner and outer elastic wall portions,connecting welds at predetermined areas between said walls, top andbottom walls, said body having a reduced neck portion with a centralopening at the top for engaging the neck of the bottle and a centralopening at the bottom to engage the bottom of the bottle, and a valvemember for inflation and deflation of the jacket.

5. A removable and inflatable tubular outer jacket container forpreventing breakage and transfer of vibrations to an inner object,comprising a hollow body having continuous innerand outer spaced andelastic walls and connecting welds at predetermined areas between saidwalls, and top and bottom walls to form an air chamber, and means forinflating said jacket whereby the jacket clings tofsaid object.

6. A removable and inflatable tubular outer jacket container forpreventing breakage and transfer of vibrations to an inner object,comprising a hollow body having inner and outer spaced and elastic wallsto cover the sides of said object and connecting Welds at predeterminedareas between said walls and having top and bottom inwardly directedinner and outer spaced walls to cushion the top and bottom of the objectwhen said jacket is inflated and means forinflating said jacket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS735,876 Holland Aug. 11, 1903 1,182,042 Rubin- May 9, 1916 1,257,086Marcellus Feb. 19, 1918 1,433,304 Sampson Oct. 24, 1922 1,457,496 ButlerJune 5, 1923 2,462,215 'Norman et al. Feb. 22, 1949

